Shen Jianian stood up supporting her cello, realizing only then that she was on a film set and in the middle of filming, as she saw everyone watching her.
She raised a hand to her forehead, frowning slightly.
There were always unfamiliar fragnts that intruded into her mind without warning at certain monts, like slides flashing by quickly, elusive.
Though unfamiliar, they ca with a strange sense of familiarity.
Wu Heng noticed she was not in the right state and picked up the loudspeaker to say, "Were you too nervous and didn’t rest well last night? How about a twenty-minute break to adjust?"
Upon hearing this, Shen Jianian quickly shook her head, "I can do it."
This theater set was rented for only one day and was costly, and the staff were all waiting on site. Shen Jianian didn’t want to waste everyone’s ti because of herself.
She took a deep breath, sat down on the chair again, and the stylist rushed onto the stage to touch up her makeup and hair and then hurried off the stage.
The second take of the sa scene, and Shen Jianian had no more glimpses of those fragnts, as if it were just her illusion earlier.
They completed the shot smoothly, and the director called for another take.
This take cleared the stage of background actors.
In the final edit, it would create an atmosphere for viewers — at the mont I gazed into your eyes, everything around us ceased to exist, as if only the two of us existed in the world.
After most of the crowd left, only Gu Chongli remained in the audience. Even Zhao Shunyi got up and stood aside, out of the cara’s view.
Shen Jianian reenacted the sa scenario; this ti, Gu Chongli smiled at her, a smile of relief, signifying his readiness to let go of the past, embrace a new life, and cherish the person before him.
By morning, filming ended. Shen Jianian changed out of her elegant dress and back into her own clothes. She took out her phone, checked her ssages, and saw two friend requests.
One was from the lead actress Zhao Shunyi, and the other was from Gu Chongli.
Shen Jianian accepted Zhao Shunyi’s friend request and ignored Gu Chongli’s.
Zhao Shunyi quickly sent a ssage, "I saw the schedule, and today’s scene is after three in the afternoon. Let’s go out for lunch. I’m tired of boxed lunches."
Shen Jianian replied with an "Okay" but felt it was a bit dry, so she added a playful emoji.
Zhao Shunyi also sent her an emoji of two Teletubbies hugging each other.
Shen Jianian curved her lips into a smile and took her bag to head out, seeing Zhao Shunyi waiting outside. She was in a white T-shirt and denim skirt, classic Gucci sneakers on her feet, with a small crossbody bag, sunglasses, and a baseball cap. Beside her stood Gu Chongli, tall and lean, absorbed in his phone.
Zhao Shunyi waved to Shen Jianian, "Just waiting for you."
Shen Jianian’s smile waned a bit when she saw Gu Chongli.
Before she could speak, Gu Chongli, "preemptively," handed her his phone, "Shen Jianian, why did you add Zhao Shunyi on WeChat but not ? Why the preferential treatnt?"
Shen Jianian didn’t expect him to bring this up so bluntly. It was embarrassing, and she pursed her lips, using a random excuse, "I didn’t see your request."
"Well, now that I’m telling you, you should know," Gu Chongli, much like a child, got into a huff with Shen Jianian.
Zhao Shunyi kindly hooked her arm with Shen Jianian’s and said to Gu Chongli, "Maybe Jianian just doesn’t want to add you. Stop embarrassing yourself."
Gu Chongli asked Shen Jianian, "Is that true?"
Shen Jianian remained silent.
The three of them walked to where they were parked, with Gu Chongli driving. As he retracted his gaze from the rearview mirror, he sighed softly, "Won really hold grudges."
Surely, it was because he secretly took a picture of Shen Jianian yesterday, causing her to hold a grudge.
Zhao Shunyi showed displeasure, "Who are you talking about?"
Gu Chongli clamd up, planning to find a chance to apologize to Shen Jianian later.
The place where they ate wasn’t a well-known restaurant, located on a quiet street surrounded by residential buildings. Gu Chongli parked the car and heard Zhao Shunyi mutter, "Can this place’s food be any good?"
Gu Chongli unbuckled his seatbelt and turned back to glare at her, "This is a local Jiang City haunt, not sowhere I bring just anyone. Just don’t get a stomach ache and be unable to film later."
Shen Jianian was quiet, listening to their bickering without joining in.
As it turned out, Gu Chongli lived up to his "Jiang City local" title; the small eatery wasn’t high-end but the food was genuinely delicious.
After pouring drinks for the two girls, Gu Chongli lounged back on his chair, hands crossed over his chest, chin slightly raised, wearing a proud expression, as if the restaurant were his own, "How’s the taste?"
Zhao Shunyi couldn’t spare her mouth, so she gave him a thumbs up.
Gu Chongli looked at Shen Jianian, who gave him a nod of approval. Having been in Jiang City for so ti, she had visited many restaurants, high-end and affordable, and this small place was among the top.
Gu Chongli raised his eyebrows smugly, feeling good.
After the al, Shen Jianian, the "newcor," had beco familiar with them, realizing that Gu Chongli wasn’t frivolous, just overly lively and cheerful with thoughts that jumped around. Zhao Shunyi, anwhile, was an easy-going person and a seasoned foodie, who would be unable to stop eating when delicious food was present yet had to maintain her figure, hence her pained expressions.
Zhao Shunyi had only acted in one web series before, which was very popular, but in terms of status, she wasn’t as high as Gu Chongli, playing the secondary female lead in the movie.
When Shen Jianian first t her, she seed familiar because she had watched a few episodes of that hit web series at ho with Zhou Ruo.
Upon ntioning this, Zhao Shunyi, while munching on a chicken leg, said, "No wonder your gaze was so indifferent yesterday. Turns out you didn’t know my na. Alas, it shows I’m not famous enough."
"It’s not..."
Shen Jianian tried to explain, but Zhao Shunyi raised her hand, wearing a disposable glove, stopping her, "No need to explain, I get it. You just don’t follow the entertainnt industry, right?"
She was right, so Shen Jianian nodded.
Zhao Shunyi asked, "So after this cao, are you planning to enter the entertainnt industry?" She shared her thoughts, "I think you’re quite suited for acting; your small face and slight fra give you an on-cara advantage. Honestly, if I didn’t know you played the cello, I would have thought you were trained in dance."
Blushing from the complint, Shen Jianian sipped her drink and said, "I haven’t considered it for now."
"If you make up your mind, you can tell . I’ll introduce you to my agent," Zhao Shunyi offered. "Our company is pretty good at promoting actresses."
Gu Chongli interrupted, "Join our company instead; your company has too many actresses, easy to clash, hard to stand out."
Shen Jianian found it amusing yet appreciated their concern for her "future," but she genuinely had no plans to pursue acting long-term currently.
Once they finished lunch, and while Zhao Shunyi went to the restroom, Gu Chongli took the chance to sit beside Shen Jianian and explain yesterday’s misunderstanding, "I truly didn’t an to take your picture secretly. I have a friend in the circle whose girlfriend shares your na. I snapped a picture of you to show him, and he said you’re not the person he knew."
Shen Jianian looked at him for a few monts; he didn’t seem to be lying.
After returning, she accepted Gu Chongli’s friend request.
*
Altogether, Shen Jianian’s role took five days to shoot.
On the afternoon she finished, the crew got her a bouquet of flowers and a small cake, and everyone took a photo together.
Zhao Shunyi saw her off, giving her a hug, saying, "I’ll miss you. But the movie wrap is near; don’t forget to co to the wrap party. According to tradition, previous actors will join."
Shen Jianian didn’t promise outright; she said she would see about the timing.
After saying goodbyes, she got into Pei Che’s car, who ca to pick her up.
When Zhao Shunyi turned back, she saw Gu Chongli standing behind her, with his arm stupidly raised in a farewell gesture, his eyes glued to the departing car.
Gu Chongli lowered his eyes, eting her gaze, gave a dry cough, then scratched the back of his head, "Is the guy driving Shen Jianian’s boyfriend?"
"How would I know?" Zhao Shunyi squinted, scrutinizing him. "Why are you asking?"
"Just curious," Gu Chongli nudged a pebble with his foot, "I thought I heard you ntion the wrap party. Did Shen Jianian say she’d co?"
Zhao Shunyi deliberately played coy, dragging the last words as she observed Gu Chongli’s expression, "She said..."
Gu Chongli, clearly very interested, nervously urged, "What did she say?"
Zhao Shunyi burst out laughing, not revealing his slight infatuation, "She said she’d see at the ti. If you want her to co, ssage her. Didn’t she add your contact later on?"
Gu Chongli, speaking faster than he thought, with an air of flustered annoyance, exclaid, "Who wants her to co?!"
Zhao Shunyi shrugged, her expression saying it all.
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